He is one of the most famous kickboxers in the United States, and has also competed in boxing and mixed martial arts. I got to learn from Rick Roufus for the better part of 3 years and loved it. Why was Rick Roufuss match against Dennis Alexio canceled? (1), Retains ISKA Full Contact Light Heavyweight World title. world title in 2001 but found victories harder to come by as the toll of career of 300+ fights set in and he retired around 2006 at the age of 40. Fight was for Gibson's I.K.K.C. Dana White, president of Ultimate Fighting Championshiponce said women will never fight in the UFC,and boy was he wrong. Roufus won by heavy second-round KO from a high kick that left the Polish fighter unconscious on the canvas. Changpuek is a seven time world champion who has fought some of the world's best fighters at middleweight to heavyweight and has wins against world class fighters such as Rob Kaman (x3), Rick Roufus, Peter Smit and Tosca Petridis. The perfect embodiment of these words is Rick Roufus, one of the greatest kickboxers in American history. After Rick Roufuss defeat against Muay-Thai fighter Changpuek Kiatsongrit, he and his younger brother, Duke themselves, began practicing the art of delivering and checking leg kicks with some Thai experts. He also expressed his wish to fight Dennis, which, unfortunately, may never come true. By rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform. Conor McGregor's fight against Dustin Poirier was a rematch of their first fight in 2014 at UFC 178, which Conor McGregor won via knockout. Once considered to be a point scoring strike aimed to keep opponents at bay, the devastating outcome of leg kicks was first displayed in the UFC by former heavyweight fighter Pat Barry, former UFC champion Jose Aldo and Benson Henderson. They also do not use as much head movement, and their footwork is not as sleek as they move around riding the rhythms of Sarama. Yes it can actually. This is because kickboxing is a four point contact striking system, while muay thai is an eight point contact striking system, hence muay thai is also called the art of eight limbs. But thanks to famous fights by the likes of Bruce Lee, Chuck Norris, and Wong Jack Man, different fighting techniques grew in popularity. Likewise, Rick and Duke later sought to learn some of the techniques of Muay Thai, which they would implement in their fights later on. (Here are the facts!). "[Bruce]chose to let anybody into his school regardless of what color or race they were as long as he knew what was in theirheart was good and positive.". Rick Roufus vs. Changpuek Kiatsongrit. Wins K-1 USA Grand Prix '98 and qualifys for K-1 World Grand Prix '98 Opening Round. One of the main reasons kickboxers dont stand more squared like the muay thai fighters, is that they dont have to worry about powerful low kicks to the leg. Retains PKC Light Heavyweight World title. In a poll conducted about the kickboxers sexuality, around 20% voted Rick as gay while 80% voted him straight. Mind you the thai commentators, shit on fighter farangs too. Gohu Trenosrac. [2] He is credited as being one of the first Muay Thai fighters to go abroad and fight other fighters of other martial arts styles, often stronger and heavier than himself, bringing to the world an understanding of the effectiveness of Muay Thai. One of the most iconic Bruce Lee battles, hisstand-off with Wong Jack Man not only proved Lee'sprowess as a street-fighter turned martial artist, but also paved the way for current MMA standards. Rick Roufus is the Global Director of Fighter Development for PKA Worldwide. Growing up watching Bruce Lee, Tyson, Van Damme and Chuck Norris to name a few. I guess its in our nature to strive to find the best in everything. Here are some of the biggest differences between kickboxing and muay thai. I have tried all sorts of different exercises over the years, and trust me, nothing beats a workout you get from a combat sports training, especially if it involves sparring as well. \"The beauty of choosing a 'low-kick game plan' against a movement-based fighter [like Roufus],\" explained Lawrence Kenshin, \"is that it gradually adds up and slows down the fighter by taking away the most valuable asset: explosive footwork.\" Not only that, but low kicks also take away an opponent's ability to throw a forceful punch since power is generated from the ground up. He is an American Professional kickboxer, fighting out of Roufus Kickboxing Centre in Tempe, Arizona. Changpuek [English: White Elephant] Kiatsongrit (Thai: ; born October 13, 1966) is a Thai former Muay Thai fighter. He changed directions on 5 November 1988 when he challenged Changpuek Kiatsongrit in a non-title fight in Las Vegas. Changpuek fought a number of fights in Europe around the turn of the millennium winning the W.K.U. Speaking of low kicks, theres an interesting story related to the Roufus brothers as mentioned in the earlier in the article. Kickboxing and muay thai share many similarities. We do not know how the couple met or when they had gotten married, but likely it might have been decades to their marriage, considering they are already blessed with 3 kids. But kickboxing is the better art when is comes to punches, head movement and footwork. Rick Roufus was born on June 3, 1966. I think the rules didn't allow for any clinch fighting. This will help make up your mind! He has won multiple world championships and held titles for all major kickboxing associations. But a lot was learned. I think a happy medium between traditional muay thai and traditional kickboxing is the best style of standup fighting. Some of the other notable fights in his kickboxing are: In the 78 matches he fought in his kickboxing career, he won 65 of them, lost 9, 1 draw, and 1 was no contest. This article was last updated by Prince on February 20, 2023. At the end of the year he fought in the K-2 Grand Prix '93 a tournament held by K-1 for light heavyweight fighters. Roufus followed the Full Contact rules, which meant leg kicks, elbow strikes, and knee attacks were not allowed. Rick Roufus and his wife, Michelle (Source: Myspace). 10 Signs of A Bad Martial Arts Instructor (Avoid at all costs! Rick Roufus did fine after this fight. I was on crutches. His father is Patrick Roufus, while the name of his mother is unknown. If you have any feedback to give us, please email casualfightfanpodcast@gmail.com! Below arethe seminal fights that led to the fighting scene of today. [2]. Dec 27, 2021 - The fight Rick Roufus (USA) vs Changpuek Kietsongrit (THA).Until the 80s, for people who had never visited Thailand, Muay Thai was a completely unknown marti. The rules were as follows: No elbows, clinch equals an immediate reset, throws are not allowed. After retirement, Rick Roufus seems to be getting more and more active on different forms of social media. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Sadly, not much has been revealed about the kickboxers early life; it has been disclosed that his father has been a huge support for his life and career. A podcast for the casual fight fan. (1), William Knorr failure to attempt 8 kick minimum in 3 different rounds. Rick Roufus (USA) vs Changpuek Kietsongrit (THA), Las-Vegas, USA. Learn how your comment data is processed. "that punch totally rocked Kietsongrit, that fighter has never felt the power that Rufus had.". Subscribe: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCK_jpbZ7Bjw0-jJ5p2y-qcA?view_as=subscriber The Most Inspiring Fight Ever #2 - Rick Roufus vs Changpuek KietsongritClick: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCK_jpbZ7Bjw0-jJ5p2y-qcA?sub_confirmation=1Known as the \"Legendary Fight that Changed History,\" this battle introduced signature low-kicks of Muay Thai into American kickboxing, completely altering footwork patterns. Mobile version (7.75%). To win, Kiatsongrittook out Roufus's biggest advantage: his footwork. ), firstly he was talking about deadening the nerves in the shin not the thigh. As a result, hehas got a mesomorph and toned body. For example both are ring sports, where fighters wear boxing gloves and strike each other under a certain set of rules, within a specified time limit. Changpuek Kiatsongrit - Record. However, it may be so because of the secrecy of Ricks marriage. Explore. (1). MMA Light Heavyweight World title. Before we get into the differences between muay thai and kickboxing, let me clarify one thing first. Notice the quotes around "kill the nerves," as I don't know the exact benefit you get from that exercise. Until the 80s, for people who had never visited Thailand, Muay Thai was a completely unknown martial art. Great physical exercise and improves cardiovascular health, Relieves stress and improves mental health, Widens your social circle with like minded people. These cookies do not store any personal information. After a strong beginning, Roufus lost the fight in the fifth round after the damage from leg kicks piled up on the American. The thai fighter sure took a lot of damage in the first round. Among his siblings is another famous kickboxer and current head coach of Rofusport. To prove this, in 1988, Rick Roufus went on to fight ChangpuekKiatsongrit, a muay thai fighter from Thailand, who is known to be one of the first thai fighters to fight outside of Thailand, and showcase the effectiveness of muay thai to the world. But there are also very distinct differences between the two arts. "And that was it. Wrestling. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. Is Boxing a Martial Art? After the match, the eight-count rule was introduced, match length was reduced from 15 to 12 rounds, and updated medical tests became required of boxers before each fight. The first thing you may notice is that the muay thai fighters strike with punches, elbows, kicks and knees. Later in his late teens, he debuted as a professional kickboxer and had his debut match in May 1985 against J.C. Owens, which he won. World Lightheavyweight championship title. Smith defeated Roufus with a straight armlock in the first round at a Strikeforce show headlined by Bob Sapp. He was world champion as a super middle wei Rick's brother). Fight was for vacant I.M.T.F. Known as the "Legendary Fight that Changed History,"this battleintroduced signature low-kicks of MuayThai into American kickboxing,completely alteringfootwork patterns. So kickboxing vs muay thai, which is better for you? world champion Rick Roufus in a non-title fight in Las Vegas in 1988. The kickboxer, despite having retired over a decade ago, has closely maintained his physique. Rick Roufus The Jet (Source: Instagram). It was a beautiful display of standup striking by both sides, and an amazing performance by Chikadze to get the TKO over Barboza. In this article well only talk about American style kickboxing, as K1 or Dutch style is really a hybrid of kickboxing and muay thai. Rick Roufus is a retired American kickboxer and MMA fighter who now works as a personal trainer. Referee stopped the bout after the ninth round. His boxing career lasted until 2001. Rick Roufus began his lifelong practice of the martial arts at the age of 5. Muaythai light heavyweight world title. this whole thing was based on the target to minimize the muay thai part at maximize the chance to win it, And when he said he should have won because of that spinning bullshit :D. Jeff "Duke" Roufus has changed his ways! On 19 June 1991, Rick Roufus faced Marek Piotrowski. On 26 March 1994 he travelled to Montreal, Quebec, Canada, where he took on Jean-Yves Thriault. Everything that dude said was very cringeworthy lol, The best part is that, by saying that, he just stated what he teaches can by beat be no talent people who learn Muay Thai, the commentary is hilarious. firstly he was talking about deadening the nerves in the shin not the thigh, secondly he was talking out his ass anyway and had probably been watching kickboxer as his research on muay thai (yes, it may not have been released before this fight, but he has a time machine. link to homepage of password protected website: "Fighter's Profile - Changpuek Kiatsongrit (DOB, height, weight etc)", "interview of Changpuek Kiatsongrit (Early life & career)", "Kongsak Sitboonmee: The Best Fighter In Thailand", "Sitpholek Muaythai Promotion 27 Dec. 2006 Pattaya", "Sensei van Emmen says goodbye to Muay Thai fighting! In fact, some reports say Wong Jack Man was actually tricked into fighting Bruce - which makes sense since Wong was brand new to the area. The headliner fight and the co-main event featured some of the greatest fighters to ever participate in combat sports. Muaythai light heavyweight world title. Both muay thai and kickboxing are great for weight loss. Rick and Amanda have 3 children; Amanda Roufus, Kylene Roufus, and Jett Roufus. Changpuek managed to push the much larger Hoost into an extra round only to lose eventually via a head kick knockout. He has won multiple world championships and held titles for all major kickboxing associations. Then the timer starts. ), Karate vs Taekwondo | The Basics and Beyond (Complete Breakdown). prikoke Brown Belt. Sasha vs Yohan Sasha . As of the top kickboxers in America of his time, Rick Roufus has amassed immense wealth. Jared Cannonier fights a competitive match against Kelvin Gastelum and comes out with a hard-fought unanimous decision win, and UFC newcomer Josiane Nunes scores a brilliant KO in her debut against Continue Reading, #5 Legendary Kickboxing vs Muay Thai fight: Rick Roufus vs Changpuek Kietsongrit 1988, Hi guys, welcome back to the Casual Fight Fan! `` Legendary fight that changed history, '' as i do n't the... Happy medium between traditional muay thai fighters strike with punches, head movement and footwork, Reddit still! The `` Legendary fight that changed history, '' as i do n't know the exact you! The co-main event featured some of the website time, Rick Roufus has amassed wealth... Qualifys for K-1 world Grand Prix '98 Opening round different rounds an immediate reset, throws are not allowed kickboxer! Turn of the greatest fighters to ever participate in combat sports felt the power Rufus! 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Global Director of fighter Development for PKA Worldwide Damme and Chuck Norris to name a few top kickboxers in of... Was a completely unknown martial art changed directions on 5 November 1988 he. Head coach of Rofusport never fight in the first thing you may notice is that the muay thai was completely... Changed directions on 5 November 1988 when he challenged Changpuek Kiatsongrit in a poll about! Winning the W.K.U by heavy second-round KO from a high kick that left the Polish fighter unconscious the..., Relieves stress and improves mental health, Widens your social circle with like minded people had never Thailand...